Characteristics and distributions of myofascial trigger points in individuals with chronic tension-type headaches.
Uraiwan Chatchawan, Sirikorn Thongbuang, Junichiro Yamauchi
PMID 31037000WHAT IT FOUND
Active trigger points were found in people with chronic tension-type headaches, mostly in head, neck and shoulder muscles, with pressure pain thresholds averaging 1.0 kg/cm2; healthy controls had none.
Key findings
01Participants with chronic tension-type headaches had active trigger points, while healthy controls had none; latent trigger points and tenderness points did not differ.
02In the chronic tension-type headache group, the number of trigger points in head, neck and shoulder muscles was higher than in upper back muscles; active trigger points were most often found in suboccipital, temporalis, splenius/semispinalis and upper trapezius muscles.
03Pressure pain thresholds of active trigger points were 0.7 ± 0.2 kg/cm2 in head, neck and shoulder muscles, 1.2 ± 0.6 kg/cm2 in upper back muscles, and 1.0 ± 0.3 kg/cm2 overall.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only adults aged 20 to 50 years with chronic tension-type headache, so it does not describe episodic tension-type headache or migraine. The paper states that a therapeutic approach based on trigger point management and the role of trigger point activation needs to be verified. People were excluded for cervical disorders, neurological deficits, uncontrolled hypertension, medication-overuse headache, taking analgesics or muscle relaxants within 24 hours, menstruation or fever, and anticoagulant medications.
Declared interests
The work was funded by the Research Center in BNOJPH, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating trigger points will relieve chronic tension-type headache. This study only described trigger points and pressure pain thresholds; it did not test treatment.